Today's review is brought to you by the word "buildup". And sad to say, this book needs more of it. The writing and word usage are very good, and it flows well overall, but that doesn't change the fact that it moves at a lightening pace, and not in the way it's supposed to. I'm all for getting to the action quickly, but there is a right and a wrong way to do it. Allowing just a pinch of buildup allows you to immerse the reader in the world you're creating so that when something DOES happen, they are more likely to care and be invested. In this case, the writer just crosses the line into going too fast into the main story. Before we even have a chance to care about the narrator or his fellow characters, we are hit with a murder and the mystery that results. It can make it very difficult to get a feel for who these people are when there is NOT a murder mystery invading their lives.
I will say that the pacing occasionally resembles that of a film-noir detective, which is nice to see in a modern setting. And given the tie-in to a real life unsolved case, I am intrigued by the overall story and want to see how it plays out. The story seems to be built very well and very thoughtfully. I just think it could be told better as more of a slow burn.
I will say that the pacing occasionally resembles that of a film-noir detective, which is nice to see in a modern setting. And given the tie-in to a real life unsolved case, I am intrigued by the overall story and want to see how it plays out. The story seems to be built very well and very thoughtfully. I just think it could be told better as more of a slow burn.